CRAIG GORDON could be set for a long-awaited return to action – after Martin O’Neill revealed he wants to see if the Scot deserves a new contract.

The 29-year-old has not made a first-team appearance for Sunderland since February 2011, when he damaged a knee tendon.

Though he has subsequently been named on the Black Cats bench on six occasions, he now finds himself behind Simon Mignolet and Keiren Westwood in the pecking order for the No 1 shirt.

However, as the Wearside club are all but safe from relegation and out of the FA Cup, O’Neill is considering handing Gordon – whose contract ends in the summer – a run-out during Sunderland’s last seven games of the season before deciding whether to extend his current deal.

He said: “I have what I consider three really fine goalkeepers.

“One is recovering from a long-term injury in Craig and genuinely, before the end of the season, I would like to see what he can do.

“The goalkeeping position is one which does cause you a problem.

“It is not as if I can switch him from right-back to left-back.

“Craig is nearly there in terms of full fitness, but the only way you can check is by putting him into the team.

“It is a situation I will monitor before the end of the season, particularly with Craig’s contract coming up.

“If he fully fit, then really he should be in a strong bargaining position anyway. He needs to play though.”

Of his other goalkeepers, O’Neill added: “Keiren Westwood lost his position through illness so he could consider himself unlucky.

“Simon Mignolet has done very, very well and I have been very pleased with him.

“I don’t think he could do anything about the two late goals at Manchester City.

“He is beating himself up because apparently he was receiving a bit of criticism in Belgium and he was very disappointed about it.

“Goalkeeping coach Seamus McDonagh was full of praise for him in the game and Simon said he was pleased because he had taken stick.”

Sunderland host Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow before a trip to Everton on Monday.

O’Neill is without Titus Bramble, Wes Brown and John O’Shea but, while Kieran Richardson is available following a calf injury, the Black Cats boss insists Jack Colback has deputised admirably at left-back.

He added: “Kieran had only done the one day of training before last week’s game at Manchester City and he said himself he is one of those lads who needs a bit of training done before he plays.

“It was good to welcome him back into the fold. He is clear of injury now and hopefully he can stay that way between now and the end of the season.

“However, young Colback was magnificent at left-back. He played really well and was not fazed at all.

“That is twice he has played against City at left-back and he has played great both times.”